BT Sport to show over 700 hours of live hockey over the next two years

BT Sport will broadcast more than 700 hours of live hockey over the next
two years after agreeing a deal to become the home of the UK international
game.

The deal with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will see BT
Sport show both of England women’s Investec Internationals in London in June as
well as the Men’s Hero Hockey World League Semi-Final, with England’s men also
competing in London.

In addition to this the women’s 2018 World Cup in London and the men’s
World Cup in India will be shown on BT Sport channels, with all the best teams
across the globe competing.

This year’s line-up will see a blockbuster start for England’s women
when they take on Argentina on Saturday, 10 June. The following day will see
the hosts battle it out against the Netherlands. Both matches are one-off
internationals, and will serve as warm-up matches ahead of the competitive
summer schedule.

In 2017, competitions run thick and fast for the men, starting with 33
matches at the men’s hockey World League Semi-final in London between Thursday,
15 June, and Sunday, 25 June, at England Hockey’s Olympic legacy venue, Lee
Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre where England and Scotland will also be battling for World Cup qualification.

In July the focus will then turn back to women’s international hockey,
where there will be a further 33 matches taking place for the World League
semi-final taking place from Saturday, 8 July and Sunday, 23 July in
Johannesburg.

Both the women’s and the men’s World League finals will also be
broadcast later in November and December this year from Auckland, New Zealand
and Bhubaneswar, India respectively.

BT Sport’s coverage for 2018 will see many of the gold medal winning
women’s Team GB from the Rio 2016 Olympics look to become World Champions in
London in front of a home crowd at the World Cup, starting in July.

The final planned broadcast of the deal will see the men’s Hockey World
Cup in November and December 2018, from Bhubaneswar in India.

Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “I’m really excited that BT Sport
is now the home of international hockey for men and women, including the
prestigious World Cups. Hockey continues to grow and has done so ever since the
women’s Team GB team won the gold medal at the Rio Olympics.

"This will help
build on the popularity of the sport and give the UK viewers a chance to cheer
on the home nations represented at the World Cup and hopefully see more medals
won, exclusively live on BT Sport.”

Andy Oram, FIH TV and Broadcast Director said: “BT Sport were first to
believe and commit to the Hockey Revolution, long before the success in Rio and
we are delighted to continue our relationship and vision with them. Their
world-class production of the Hockey Champions Trophies in London last year
introduced ground-breaking innovations for our sport and has set some very high
standards as we move towards our World Cups in 2018.

"As host broadcaster for
the upcoming international events in London we look forward to working with
them to make BT Sport the exclusive ‘Home of Hockey’ in the UK and Ireland.”

"Their coverage of last year’s Hockey Champions Trophy took the presentation of
the sport to a new level, and we look forward to working very closely together
to showcase our exciting game and its world class athletes.”